The hardest part, strangely, was finding places for all the animals. Many of those that hung about the cottage made their true homes in the Everfree, and when she was no longer there to act as a beacon for them they would simply turn around and vanish into it again. But there were many that could not survive in such a way, and they needed a home to replace the one they would soon lose.
Some were easier than others. The chickens were the easiest. Applejack had happily accepted them. It was Angel that she'd been unsure about. But, she'd relented and the coop was already built.
Fluttershy hummed softly to herself and yawned as she walked the suddenly lonely halls of her little cottage.
Another thing that had been surprising was the sheer business of ending things. There was so much to do. Ponies to inform, addresses to change, things to clean. The cottage wasn’t hers, not really. The old mayor had given it to her shortly after she arrived, so she would have somewhere to sleep other than the inn’s common room, in exchange for doing work for the town. One thing led to another.
She shuffled into the kitchen and put on some tea. Tea was good. Rarity had said more than once that it was the proper fortification a Lady needed to face a host of troubles. Fluttershy took Rarity’s advice on most things. She’d seen a bit more of the world, or so it seemed. They’d actually seen much of it together, but Fluttershy was honest: she’d spent a little too much time hiding behind the thick curtain of her own mane to have it count the same.
But that wasn’t really important. She stood in front of the kettle stiffly, strangely, waiting. Couldn’t go sit down, because then she’d have to get back up. Couldn’t stand here too long, or her legs would hurt. But she didn’t want to move.
Moving was getting harder.
She leaned against the counter and sighed softly.
The kitchen. She’d miss the kitchen.
Twilight had offered--more pleaded than anything--to let her keep the cottage. It belonged to the town, but things had changed and Twilight was a princess now, with Ponyville and Everfree for her personal domains. There were rules about such things, but the mayor had agreed to not oppose Twilight’s annexation of the property for a small sum. Fluttershy could live there for free, even be appointed as Twilight’s official wildlife advisor or whatever title she would like. She could live forever in her little cottage by the treeline.
No, she’d said, smiling. She’d shook her head and told a sputtering, confused Twilight: no, somepony should live here when I am gone. It’s a nice house.
It really was a nice house.
Making tea took twice as long, as much from her own caution as any actual weakness on her part. She set tea for one at her little table and sat quietly as birds sang. The birds hadn’t left, and probably wouldn’t until long after she was gone, probably.
She liked birds. You didn’t have to see birds to appreciate them. You could simply listen.